New guy here and have a lot to learn as I've just got on my first deer lease. This is my first post.
I'm trying to sight in my Marlin 30-30 at 100 yards. The choices between 150 grain bullets and 170 grain, coupled with all the choices of manufacturers have me a bit overwhelmed. I understand I should pick a round that my rifle likes, but with all the choices, where do I start?
Unless you go the custom route, it’s all trial and error. Hopefully some here will provide some input on what works best for them and you can go from there, hopefully only having to purchase 3-4 loads before finding one your rifle likes. Being a newer shooter, I would go with the lighter loads if possible to keep recoil down as much as possible.
Do not trifle in the affairs of dragons, for thou art crunchy and taste good with ketchup.
I hunted for at least a decade with a Marlin lever rifle in 35 Rem and a 4x scope. With a 100 yard zero you should be easily good to 150 yards. For ammo I’d probably go with the 170 gr ammo, and (since I had years of success with it), I’d try Remington CoreLock ammo. You need a stable rest to shoot from, and you need a cardboard box of sufficient size that you can hit it from 25 yards. White printer paper and a Marksalot will make you a target to tape to the box. Sight in at 25 and then move to 75 or 100 yards. It’s a minimalist approach, for sure, but it’ll work just fine. Read the scope instructions.
Alternate approach is to drive to my place and you can use my 100 yard range and shooting bench.
My Marlin 336W shoots 150 grain Federal Fusion (gold box) extremely well. Others here report the same.
If yours is a more recent Marlin with a micro-groove barrel, I would steer away from Hornady Leverevolution ammo. Lots of comments in various forums out on the Web from Marlin owners who report the same poor performance with it.
Welcome to the forums.
Last edited by Texas Dan; 05/24/2011:06 PM.
"Some people will never like you because your spirit irritates their demons."
1. Make sure your scope base and rings are tight. If you got the rifle used, or it was a scope/rifle package, or you don’t know who mounted the scope, take all of it off, start from the bottom, and put blue lock tite on everything while ensuring it’s tight.
2. Go buy a box of Winchester super x, federal blue box, or Remington core lokt (any of the $15/box stuff) and go shoot. The bullet weight won’t matter on deer at the distance you’re going to shoot with a 30-30. Get your rifle sighted in off a solid rest as stated above. Then, REMEMBER WHAT BRAND AND LOAD YOU SIGHTED IN WITH SO YOU CAN BUY THE SAME AMMO LATER ON.
3. Have fun, kill stuff, share pics.
Last edited by Tactical Cowboy; 05/24/2011:52 PM.
The secret to a long life is to try not to shorten it.
Buy several types of ammo. Get the first test subject to be fairly close to where you are aiming.
Really big paper at 100 yards, like 3' x 3', larger is better
As many points of aim on 100 yard paper as you have different types of ammo.
Aim at a point of aim, shoot 3 rounds. It doesn't matter where the group lands in relation to your point of aim, you're testing ammo consistency. Don't move the scope settings. Let the barrel cool. Move to a new point of aim, shoot the next ammo type for 3 rounds. Repeat until you've tested all the ammo.
Once you find the one that shoots best, dial in your scope to hit where you are aiming, with your ammo of choice.
Go buy more of your ammo selection.
800 Yard Steel Range Precision Rifle Instruction Memberships and Classes Available
To sight in with a scope it helps to have some bags to brace your rifle with. You can improvise filling old socks with dry sand. Starting at 25 yds is a great idea. With the rifle well stabilized, put the crosshairs on the bullseye and shoot. After you shoot, put the crosshairs back on the bullseye. Without moving the rifle crank on the elevation knob and according to which way you turn it you will see the horizontal crosshair going up or down. Move that crosshair by cranking until it is the same level as the bullet hole you just made. The windage knob will move the vertical crosshair left and right. Double check and make sure it’s still lined up with the bullseye, then move it to the bullet hole cranking the windage knob. All this is done while trying your best not to move the rifle. Your second shot should be very close to bullseye! Repeat the same routine for 100 yd. sight in. Your 30-30 will probably shoot any ammo good enough for an 1 1/2” group at 100yds. Have fun.
You might also consider taking your rifle and scope to a local shooting range and look for the oldest guy there who has the most gear on his bench. If he looks like someone who could easily get lost in the woods it’s all the better. You’ll likely learn more about firearms and shooting than you would from any hunter there.
Consider too that many ranges have small groups of middle-aged and older men who get together and shoot on the same day every week. The Lead Range Officer, if not already a member of the group, might tip you off as to when you can catch them there.
Last edited by Texas Dan; 05/25/2007:27 PM.
"Some people will never like you because your spirit irritates their demons."
You might find the info at the link below more helpful.
Personally, I would suggest a newcomer try for a 5 to 6-inch target area when taking the most ethical shot, that being one to the heart and lungs. However, with enough practice I bet you can get all your groups down to three inches without much difficulty.
In my opinion, your rifle is completely capable of putting every shot within the inner white circle.
How can you make a statement like this...have you shot the rifle?
I too have a Marlin 30-30 (Model 336W) and suspect it shoots about the same as the one owned by the OP, which I suspect is a relative new one.
Here's a target I sent the OP earlier today in a PM to provide evidence of what an average shooter can do with a Marlin using average ammo (Remington CorLokt 150 grain). The target distance is 100 yards and the inner white circle has a diameter of 3-1/4 inches. I'm sure someone with better shooting skills and/or better ammo could do much better.
Last edited by Texas Dan; 05/27/2009:18 PM.
"Some people will never like you because your spirit irritates their demons."
Just because one Marlin shoots 3” does not mean all will and it’s a mistake to assume so. Every manuf. turns out a lemon now and then so unless you have shot and/or given a gun a thorough inspection you shouldn’t be making statements like that, especially to someone just learning.
Do not trifle in the affairs of dragons, for thou art crunchy and taste good with ketchup.
Using a target with a smaller point of aim will help tighten your groups. A good solid rest will help. You can improve your trigger technique dry firing, just make double sure the rifle isn’t loaded. Don’t confuse this with your trigger technique practice, but you can also push the hammer forward and dry fire at the same time to make the trigger break a little smoother. The tube feed on a lever action can play tricks on you, so always be super careful!